The Idaho Republican senator, who pleaded guilty Friday to a drunken driving charge in Virginia, has been issuing mea culpas in interviews with local reporters and in private conversations with family members, constituents, church members and nearly all of his GOP colleagues.

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After his early morning arrest Dec. 23, Crapo immediately returned to Idaho Falls to discuss the incident with his wife and children. And he quickly informed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and a number of Senate friends, telling them he would be owning up to his actions and wouldn’t fight the charges.

“I apologized for any embarrassment that I have caused them and have explained to them I was going to stand up quickly and fully face my consequences,” Crapo told POLITICO shortly after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor in a city court in Alexandria, Va.

Aides say Crapo, who has now sworn off alcohol, is trying to figure out the best way to spotlight drinking and driving, including possible public service announcements.

Even Crapo acknowledged that his arrest for driving while intoxicated is at odds with his personal values and sterling reputation. He’s a devout Mormon — who previously said he never drinks, in accordance with his faith — and comes across as cautious and a bit buttoned-up, while well-regarded by members of both parties.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that Crapo would face this crisis head-on, express deep remorse and regret, and try to quickly move past it. Such an incident could be devastating for a vulnerable senator facing reelection, but Crapo appears poised to rebound, provided he doesn’t slip up again. Other lawmakers have met with a far worse fate after a drunken driving arrest. Former Republican Rep. Vito Fossella in 2008 acknowledged having an extramarital affair and fathering a child out of wedlock after his arrest. Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, pleaded guilty in 2006 to driving under the influence of prescription medication after he crashed his car near the Capitol.

Standing in front of Alexandria General District Court on Friday, Crapo once again apologized before a bank of local and national television cameras, and stuck around for a few questions. He repeated the exercise during a conference call with a half-dozen Idaho reporters shortly afterward.

Readers' Comments (55)

Republican't false talking points have President Obama conducting an "apology tour" while the fact is that all he did was to undo the damage to the relationhip between the United States and the allies of the United States done by George W. Bush.

On the other hand, theo only real apology tours have been done by Mitt Romney in his gaffe filled foreign tour, and by the Mormon drunk Mike Crapo.

This shows that Republican't talking points are totally hypocritical and are pure Crapo.

... Wow! Mike's come a long way since we were all dorm-mates at BYU! ('67-69!) A nice guy, man of us closeted Gays in S-Hall, Deseret Towers (now replaced), thought he was-HOT/CUTE-and NICE! What-HAPPENED?!? LOL!!!

... Wow! Mike's come a long way since we were all dorm-mates at BYU! ('67-69!) A nice guy, man of us closeted Gays in S-Hall, Deseret Towers (now replaced), thought he was-HOT/CUTE-and NICE! What-HAPPENED?!? LOL!!!

... Wow! Mike's come a long way since we were all dorm-mates at BYU! ('67-69!) A nice guy, man of us closeted Gays in S-Hall, Deseret Towers (now replaced), thought he was-HOT/CUTE-and NICE! What-HAPPENED?!? LOL!!!

... Wow! Mike's come a long way since we were all dorm-mates at BYU! ('67-69!) A nice guy, man of us closeted Gays in S-Hall, Deseret Towers (now replaced), thought he was-HOT/CUTE-and NICE! What-HAPPENED?!? LOL!!!

... Wow! Mike's come a long way since we were all dorm-mates at BYU! ('67-69!) A nice guy, man of us closeted Gays in S-Hall, Deseret Towers (now replaced), thought he was-HOT/CUTE-and NICE! What-HAPPENED?!? LOL!!!

If you think Senator Crapo went for a drive to unwind then I have some property to sell you. There is a lot of difference between DUI when you have been out to a bar because you have to get home. But when you are already home and are drinking you just don't go out for a drive to unwind. He was on a mission of some type and just got intercepted.